Uzbekistan: Strengthening the capacities of public officials on preventing corruption and advancing integrity

Promoting transparency and action against economic crime

Over the recent years the countries of Central Asia have pursued reforms designed to prevent and punish corrupt practices in order to improve business climate in the region and promote sustainable economic development for the benefit of all. The present Action aims to contribute to improving the conditions for businesses and to enhancing the quality of anti-corruption systems across the region. The Action comprises two components: 1) Business integrity and compliance; 2) Anti-corruption, anti-money laundering and asset recovery systems.

Business integrity and compliance

Enhancing transparency, business integrity and the protection of rights of entrepreneurs is one of the priorities of the countries of the Central Asian region. The current Action focuses on establishing mechanisms and enhancing capacities to address extortion and solicitation from businesses, reducing administrative barriers and enhancing compliance across the business sector. On the regional level, the aim of the intervention is to establish effective mechanisms for sharing good practices and to contribute to developing a clearer understanding of the common regional and cross-border corruption risks facing the business sector. On the national level, the Action focuses on the specific priorities of the respective countries in the abovementioned thematic areas and seeks to provide tailor-made assistance to reforms.

Anti-corruption, anti-money laundering and asset recovery systems

Work in this area concentrates on improving mechanisms and capacities of authorities, including law enforcement, to prevent and tackle corruption, money laundering and economic crime as well as on strengthening national systems to combat money laundering and terrorism financing. The regional dimension of the component includes conducting studies on corruption and economic crime focusing on specific regional risks and threats, and regional cascade training programmes for law enforcement personnel and civil service staff. The national dimension focuses on the specific needs and demand, depending on the national contexts and reform processes.

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Back Uzbekistan: Strengthening the capacities of public officials on preventing corruption and advancing integrity

The Action on “Promoting Transparency and Action against Economic Crime” in Central Asia (CA TAEC) supported the Anti-Corruption Agency and other public institutions of Uzbekistan in a two-day training on 3-4 October 2023 in Tashkent, the Republic of Uzbekistan. The activity aimed at improving the capacities of relevant competent entities in preventing corruption and advancing integrity.

32 representatives spanning from a variety of institutions, including the Anti-Corruption Agency, the National Bank, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Sport and Youth were trained and exchanged experience on the main principles and challenges of assessing corruption risks. The participants took part in interactive discussions on corruption prevention tools, including declaration of assets, codes of ethics, and corruption reporting mechanisms. Furthermore, the representatives were introduced to international anti-corruption standards and good practices from other jurisdictions in preventing corruption and advancing integrity.

The activity was organised by the Action on “Promoting Transparency and Action against Economic Crime” in the framework of the Central Asia Rule of Law Programme 2020-2024, a joint initiative co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe. The Action is aimed at strengthening capacities to fight and prevent economic crime in five Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan).